PHI 3398 Study Guide - Coherence Theory
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Davidson - coherence theory of justification against skepticism. Davidson: an american philosopher, student of quine, wrote a series of papers. Coherence theory of truth and knowledge: an argument against skepticism, stage one, coherence theory of justification, only a belief can justify another belief. If it does not, then beliefs must be justified by something else. Only other plausible candidate; intermediaries (sense data, impressions, experience, stimulation of nerve endings) A conditional possibility of interpretation beliefs of the interpreted is true successful interpretation occurs therefore the beliefs are true. But the second premise is very questionable: stage four, belief is veridical. First element: externalism about content the empirical content of (perceptual) beliefs. This content is determined by its causes. A belief, qua belief, has content: the limits of this content externalism. Davidson has not shown that the content is rightly caused. Davidson has not shown that we have contentful beliefs: second element: 2 things are required for a belief to possess content: